Pandemic impact: IT, pharma top placement trend

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 18

The post-pandemic placement trend for several city colleges shows a boom in IT sector and pharmaceutical sciences as students from vocational and professional courses have been able to secure jobs despite the economic slump. While all recruitments shifted to online mode due to restrictions, the paradigm shift towards digitisation in post-pandemic world has helped boost the IT and technology-based sectors to offer employment opportunities.

GNDU’s placement cell this year managed to get maximum placements done in IT sector, with digital marketing specialists leading the pack. “Students with skill set in their field of specialisation are proving to be an asset for companies and IT sector is going to witness surge in the coming years as well. Apart from IT, pharmaceutical and related branches such as research and development, too, are witnessing a boom as companies such as Serum Institute and others have hired from us,” said Amit Chopra, assistant placement officer of the university.

Related fields such as agriculture science, biotechnology and industrial chemistry, too, are offering new opportunities. Chopra said while traditional sectors such as engineering and technology have not lost much, service sectors such as hospitality, hotel management and tourism have been hit due to the pandemic. “These sectors were doing fine before the pandemic and maximum hiring was done through local tourism industry. But since tourism and hospitality are now among the most hit sectors due to Covid-19, the temporary slump will result in reduced jobs,” he said.

Another factor, hitting placements post-pandemic is the decreased international recruitments and local industry slump. “While mass media, journalism and IT remain popular industries offering jobs, local industry seems to be missing while hiring students this year. We used to get recruiters from Punjab, Himachal and other nearby states, but due to slump in the local industry, hiring has been less this year,” said Manoj Puri, dean, placement in-charge, BBKDAV College.

GNDU students have registered an average package of Rs5 lakh per annum this year, with maximum hiring from MBA and IT sector.